A stellar speaker line-up has been put together for what will be the very last Burren Law School, in County Clare, this May bank holiday weekend.

On the theme of ‘Democracy In Crisis?’, the 2019  programme will address the future of democracy, current international challenges for democracies, and politics and human rights at home and abroad.

Topics at the law school, which runs from 3-5 May in Ballyvaughan, will also include Ireland’s changing relationship with the EU and the US, and the impact of Brexit on the North.

Confirmed

Confirmed speakers include Chief Justice Frank Clarke, Barra McGrory QC (former DPP for Northern Ireland), Marion McKeone (US-based journalist), Conor Gearty (professor of Human Rights Law at LSE), Eamon Ryan TD (pictured), Catriona Crowe (author and broadcaster), and Dr Brendan Dunford (environmental consultant).

Final year

The organisers have confirmed that this will be the final year of the Burren Law School. Over the past 25 years, the school’s judicial speakers have included legal luminaries, such as: the late Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, former Chief Justice John Murray, Mr Justice Ronan Keane, Mr Justice Niall Fennelly, Mr Justice Paul Carney, Mr Justice Bryan MacMahon, Mr Justice Donal O’Donnell, Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy, Mr Justice Roderick Murphy and Mr Justice Gerard Hogan.

Other great past speakers included Garrett FitzGerald, Emily O'Reilly, Colm Toibin, John Hume, Brian Lenihan, Maurice Hayes, Mary Banotti, Alan Dukes, Catriona Crowe and Emily Logan.

The final Burren Law School promises to be a weekend packed with debate and discussion, against the setting of the stunning Burren landscape.

Bookings can be made at www.burrencollege.ie. Enquiries should be addressed to julia@burrencollege.ie.